Identification badge holder

ABSTRACT

A retractable identification badge holder which allows interchangeable buttons to be removably attached thereto. The holder includes a housing having a reel mounted therein, the reel having an extendable and retractable cord mounted thereto. A clip, mounted to the housing, allows the holder to be releasably attached to an article of clothing. A bob is attached to a free end of the cord. A flexible snap fastener assembly is connected to the bob, the flexible snap fastener assembly for releasably securing an identification badge to the holder. An attachment means is fixedly secured to the housing, the attachment means allowing for a button to be removably attached to the holder.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to retractable devices for holding items, and more particularly, to a retractable identification badge holder, the holder allows for interchangeable articles to be removable attached thereto.

2. Description of the Related Art

The prior art discloses various retractable article holding devices. However, none of the prior art devices disclose, show, or teach a retractable identification badge holder having a means for allowing articles to be interchangeable with holder.

Accordingly, a need exists for a retractable identification badge holder having an attachment means allowing interchangeable articles disposed with indicia and/or decorative patterns to be removably attached to the holder in a manner which is quick, easy, and efficient. The development of the retractable badge holder fulfills this need.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:

U.S. Patent Application no. 2008/0265082 A1, published in the name of Angiuli;

U.S. Patent Application no. 2004/0089759 A1, published in the name of Genuise;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,357 B2, issued in the name of Jones et al.

U.S. Patent Application no. 2009/0103043, published in the name of Ramsey;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,237 B1, issued in the name of Kagel;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,158 B1, issued in the name of Huang;

U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,851, issued in the name of Sill;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,882 B2, issued in the name of Raia et al.;

U.S. Pat. No. D498,358 S, issued in the name of Wolff; and

U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,620 B2, issued in the name of Fields.

Consequently, a need has been felt for a retractable identification badge holder having a means for allowing articles to be interchangeable therewith. This application presents claims and embodiments that fulfill a need or needs not yet satisfied by the products, inventions and methods previously or presently available. In particular, the claims and embodiments disclosed herein describe a retractable badge holder comprising: a housing; a reel mounted inside the housing; an extendable and retractable cord mounted to the reel; a bob attached to a free end of the cord; a flexible snap fastener assembly connected to the bob via a connector, the flexible snap fastener assembly for releasably securing an identification badge to the holder; a clip mounted to the housing, the clip for releasably attaching the holder to an article of clothing; an attachment means fixedly secured to the housing via an adhesive; and an interchangeable article removably attached to the housing via the attachment means, the retractable badge holder of the present invention providing unanticipated and nonobvious combination of features distinguished from the products, inventions and methods preexisting in the art. The applicant is unaware of any product, method, disclosure or reference that discloses the features of the claims and embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a retractable badge holder is disclosed, wherein the retractable badge holder comprises a housing having a reel mounted therein. The reel has one end of an extendable and retractable cord mounted thereto. The reel is disposed with a retractor spring allowing for responsive co-action by cord with reel when it is desired to extend or retract cord by pulling on or releasing cord. The cord passes from an interior of the housing to an exterior thereof through a port defined through the housing. Being mounted to the reel, the cord is retractable within the housing and extendable therefrom.

The opposing end of cord is attached to a bob which is physically larger than the port, thereby preventing the cord from retracting completely into the housing. The bob is connected to a flexible snap fastener assembly via a suitable connector. The flexible snap fastener assembly releasably secures an identification badge to the retractable badge holder.

The housing further comprises a clip suitably mounted to the bottom side thereof for releasably attaching the retractable badge holder to an article of clothing.

An attachment means is provided for removably attaching an article to the housing. In accordance to one embodiment, the attachment means is defined as a disc-shaped magnet fixedly secured to the top side of the housing via a suitable adhesive.

In an embodiment wherein the attachment means is magnetic, the article comprises a magnetically attractive body, thus allowing the article to be magnetically secured to the attachment means. The body of article comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface includes a recessed cavity formed therein which defines a magnet receiving space. The upper surface of the article is disposed with indicia and/or a decorative pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a retractable badge holder, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the housing of the retractable badge holder, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the housing illustrating a reel disposed therein, in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an attachment means secured to the top side of the housing, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an article in the form of a button, in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the article of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the article of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom side perspective view of the article of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the retractable badge holder shown releasably attached to a shirt pocket, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Detailed Description of the Figures

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a retractable badge holder 10 is shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the retractable badge holder 10, hereinafter referred to as “holder 10”, comprises a hollow housing 20 having a reel 30 mounted therein. The housing 20 includes a top side 22, a bottom side 24, and a continuous peripheral sidewall 26 integrally joining the top side 22 and the bottom side 24. The reel 30 has one end of an extendable and retractable cord 40 mounted thereto, and wherein cord 40 being wound about reel 30. The reel 30 is disposed with a retractor spring (not shown) allowing for responsive co-action by cord 40 with reel 30 when it is desired to extend or retract cord 40 by pulling on or releasing cord 40. The housing 20 is shown as having a circular shape, however, housing 20 may be constructed in any one of other various geometric shapes which include, but are not limited to elliptical, or polygonal, e.g., triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal. The housing 20 may be constructed of a molded plastic, metal, or other appropriate housing 20 material. More specifically and preferably, housing 20 is manufactured from a lightweight, rigid material selected from the group comprising plastic, thermoplastic, metal or a metallic-plastic composite. Preferred plastic or thermoplastic materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyolefin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyethylene, polyurethane, polycarbonate, or blends thereof, and ABS/Nylon blend. In the event plastic is the selected fabrication material, housing 20 may fabricated utilizing a common molding process such as injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, or other molding and fabricating methods.

The cord 40 passes from an interior of housing 20 to an exterior thereof through a port 50 defined through the peripheral sidewall 26 of the housing 20. Being mounted to the reel 30, the cord 40 is retractable within the housing 20 and extendable therefrom. The opposing end of cord 40 extending through the port 50 along the peripheral sidewall 26 of housing 20 is attached to a bob 60, the bob 60 being physically larger than the port 50. The cord 40, via reel 30, is under biased tension inside the housing 20, thereby urging cord 40 to retract into housing 20. In a fully retracted mode, the bob 60 is pulled by the tensioned cord 40 against an exterior of housing 20. The bob 60 prevents the cord 40 from retracting completely into the housing 20. The bob 60 is connected to a flexible snap fastener assembly 70 via a suitable connector 80, such as a connector ring 82. The flexible snap fastener assembly 70 releasably secures an identification badge 90 to the holder 10.

The housing 20 further comprises a clip 100 suitably mounted, such as by a fastener 108, or formed integral to the bottom side 24 thereof for releasably attaching the holder 10 to an article of clothing 110, such as a belt, a shirt pocket 112, or pant pocket. In reference to FIG. 9, the holder 10 is shown releasably attached to a shirt pocket 112.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 4, an attachment means 120 is provided for fixedly attaching or removably attaching an article 130 to the housing 20. Attachment means 120 is preferably magnetic, thereby being attracted to any magnetically attractive or magnetically conductive surface. Other methods for attachment may include, but are not limited to hook-and-loop fastener systems, adhesive bonding, and combinations thereof.

In accordance to one embodiment, attachment means 120 is defined as a disc-shaped magnet 122 fixedly secured to the top side 22 of housing 20 via a suitable adhesive 140. The magnet 122 defines an upper planar surface 124 and a lower planar surface 125, the lower planar surface 125 being bonded with the adhesive 140. Adhesive 140 is defined more specifically as a thin adhesive film 142 having a degree of tackiness sufficient to hold the magnet 122 securely to the top side 22 of housing 20.

The attachment means 120 may comprise a wide variety of permanent magnets including rare earth magnets, alnico magnets, ceramic magnets, and flexible magnets. Other suitable magnets for use as described hereinabove may include rare earth magnets such as Samarium Cobalt and neodymium iron classes.

Ceramic or Ferrite magnets are made of a composite of iron oxide and barium or strontium carbonate. These materials are readily available and at a lower cost than other types of materials used in permanent magnets making it desirable due to the lower cost. Ceramic magnets are produced using pressing and sintering, but are brittle and require diamond wheels if grinding is necessary. These magnets are made in different grades. Ceramic grade 1 is an isotropic grade having equal magnetic properties in all directions. Ceramic grades 5 and 8 are anisotropic grades. Anisotropic magnets are magnetized in the direction of pressing. The anisotropic method delivers the highest energy product among ceramic magnets at values up to 3.5 MGOe (Mega Gauss Oersted). Ceramic magnets possess a good balance of magnetic strength, resistance to demagnetization and low cost.

Flexible magnets are magnets made of flexible materials that are bonded with a magnetic material. Flexible magnets are advantageous in that they may be bent, coiled, twisted, or otherwise machined into almost any desired shape without depleting their magnetic field. Flexible magnets are corrosion resistant, do not need a coating, are easily machined, and may be bonded with a high magnetic energy material.

Rare earth metal magnets are composed of more expensive magnetic material. Rare earth magnets may be coated onto a flexible material, e.g., plastic or nylon, and will provide excellent magnetic strength and flexibility. These magnets can also be manufactured so as to be very thin.

Alnico magnets are made primarily from a composite of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt with small amounts of other elements added to enhance the properties of the magnet. Alnico magnets possess excellent temperature stability, good resistance to demagnetization due to shock, but are easily demagnetized. Alnico magnets are produced by two typical methods, namely, casting or sintering. Sintering offers superior mechanical characteristics, whereas casting delivers higher energy products (up to 5.5 MGOe) and allows for the design of intricate shapes. Alnico magnets are made in different grades. Grades 5 and 8, which are anisotropic grades, are two very common grades. Anisotropic grades provide for a preferred direction of magnetic orientation. Alnico magnets have been replaced in many applications by ceramic and rare earth magnets.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 5-8, the article 130 comprises a magnetically attractive body 132 defining a slightly concave shape and having an upper surface 133 and a lower surface 134, and a curved perimeter edge 135. The upper surface 133 is disposed with indicia and/or an ornamental pattern 150. Indicia and/or an ornamental pattern 150 includes alphanumeric text, images, logos, and symbols, envisioned particularly in the form of corporate logos, sports teams, advertising logos, slogans, and the like. Indicia and/or an ornamental pattern 150 further comprises decorative images comprising colorful digital images, photos, pictures, and patterns, symbols, and/or indicia which reflect or are associated with a particular theme. For purposes of this disclosure, “theme” is broadly construed to comprise the following: a variety of holidays and symbols therefor, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Easter, New Years, Halloween, and the like; corporate/company advertising; political campaigns; charitable fund raising campaigns; geographical locations, formations, and objects, such as plant and tree life, a lighthouse, a tropical scene, a snowy-winter scene, or a rain forest; nautical or aquatic scenes which include aquatic life such as fish, whales, sharks, and dolphins; wild and exotic animals; domestic animals, such as an image of one's pet(s); secular or religious holidays indicia and symbols therefor; humorous indicia and images; sports, including motor sports and sports symbols and logos therefor; sports equipment, sports venues, symbols, and teams; prehistoric reptiles; cartoon characters; outer space and objects representative thereof, such as celestial images, stars, moon, planets and the like; cultural images and symbols representative thereof, such as Southwestern and tribal cultures; family photos; and any other images selectively desired by user.

The lower surface 134 of article 130 comprises a recessed cavity 136 formed therein which defines a magnet receiving space 137. The recessed cavity 136 is geometrically shaped and configured for receiving magnet 122 in a snug-fit, shapely-conforming, removably-secured manner. In accordance to one embodiment, recessed cavity 136 may be formed by a continuous, annular ridge integrally protruding from the lower surface 134 of article 130, wherein the interior space between the ridge and lower surface 134 defining the recessed cavity 136. Ridge is envisioned to comprise a geometric shape corresponding to the geometric shape of attachment means 120.

In accordance to the preferred embodiment, recessed cavity 136 and magnet 122 are each defined as circular, the recessed cavity 136 having a diameter measuring slightly greater than a diameter defining magnet 122, thereby allowing recessed cavity 136 to intimately accommodate the magnet 122 therein in a snug-fit manner. Because the article 130 is constructed of a magnetically attractive material, article 130 is held magnetically to magnetic attachment means 120.

The magnet 122 and recessed cavity 136 of article 130 are each shown as having a circular shape, however, magnet 122 and recessed cavity 136 may each be constructed in any one of other various corresponding geometric shapes which include, but are not limited to elliptical, or polygonal, e.g., triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal. For purposes of this disclosure, corresponding geometric shapes is intended to mean the selected shape for magnet 122 must correspond to the selected shape for recessed cavity 136, and vice-versa, thereby allowing for the intimate, snug-fit by magnet 122 inside recessed cavity 136 as described hereinabove. I.e., in the event magnet 122 is circular, recessed cavity 136 is circular.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 9, in accordance to one embodiment, the article 130 is shown herein as a button 131 releasably attached via holder 10 to a shirt pocket 112. The upper surface 133 of button 131 is disposed with indicia and/or an ornamental pattern 150.

Because the article 130 is removably attached to the magnet 122, magnet 122 allows for articles 130 to be interchangeable. Thus, user may replace one button 131 with another button 131 which relates to or is symbolic of a special event, special occasion, holiday, humor, or in accordance to user's desire.

It is envisioned that the various embodiments, as separately disclosed, are interchangeable in various aspects, so that elements of one embodiment may be incorporated into one or more of the other embodiments, and that specific positioning of individual elements may necessitate other arrangements not specifically disclosed to accommodate performance requirements or spatial considerations.

It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A retractable badge holder, the holder comprising: a hollow housing, the housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a continuous peripheral sidewall integrally joining the top side and the bottom side; a reel, the reel being mounted inside the housing; an extendable and retractable cord, the cord having a first free end and a second free end, the first free end being mounted to the reel, and wherein the cord passes from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing through a port defined through the peripheral sidewall of the housing, the cord is retractable within the housing and extendable therefrom; a bob, the bob being attached to the second free end of the cord; a flexible snap fastener assembly being connected to the bob via a connector, the flexible snap fastener assembly for releasably securing an identification badge to the holder; a clip suitably mounted or formed integral to the housing, the clip for releasably attaching the holder to an article of clothing; an attachment means, the attachment means being fixedly secured to the housing; and an article, the article being removably attached to the housing via the attachment means.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment means is magnetic.
 3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a magnetically attractive body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a curved perimeter edge.
 4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the body comprises a slightly concave shape.
 5. The holder of claim 3, wherein the lower surface of the body of the article comprises a recessed cavity formed therein which defines an attachment means receiving space, the recessed cavity being geometrically shaped and configured for receiving the attachment means in a snug-fit, shapely-conforming, removably-secured manner, wherein the article being removably attached magnetically to the attachment means, and thereby allowing the article to be removably attached to the holder.
 6. The holder of claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the body of the article is disposed with indicia and/or an ornamental pattern.
 7. The holder of claim 5, wherein the recessed cavity of the body defines a geometric shape which corresponds to a geometric shape defining the attachment means.
 8. The holder of claim 2, wherein the attachment means is defined as disc-shaped.
 9. The holder of claim 5, wherein the article being interchangeable.
 10. The holder of claim 6, wherein the article is defined as a button.
 11. The holder of claim 9, wherein the article is defined as a button.
 12. A retractable badge holder, the holder comprising: a hollow housing, the housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a continuous peripheral sidewall integrally joining the top side and the bottom side; a reel, the reel being mounted inside the housing; an extendable and retractable cord, the cord having a first free end and a second free end, the first free end being mounted to the reel, and wherein the cord passes from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing through a port defined through the peripheral sidewall of the housing, the cord is retractable within the housing and extendable therefrom; a bob, the bob being attached to the second free end of the cord; a flexible snap fastener assembly being connected to the bob via a connector, the flexible snap fastener assembly for releasably securing an identification badge to the holder; a clip suitably mounted or formed integral to the housing, the clip for releasably attaching the holder to an article of clothing; an attachment means, the attachment means being fixedly secured to the housing; and an article, the article being fixedly attached to the housing via the attachment means. 